Cylindrical roller stent crimper apparatus with radiation shield

Abstract

A stent loading apparatus for loading a deformable stent onto a deployment device. The stent loading apparatus includes an elastic member defining a passage therein formed for longitudinal receipt of the deformable stent in an uncrimped condition. A first member includes a first compression region; and a second member includes a second compression region positioned substantially adjacent the first compression region at a first position. At this first position, the elastic member and the deformable stent in the uncrimped condition may be received between the opposed first and second compression regions. The first compression region and the second compression region are further configured to provide rolling support and compression of the elastic member during relative movement between the first position and a second position for rolling radial compression of the deformable stent onto the deployment device.

Description

The present invention relates, generally, to intravascular stents and, more particularly, to stent crimping apparatus with radiation shields for radioactive stents.Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) is a medical procedure for widening a stenosis or constriction of a bodily passage. The most common application is to widen the passage of a blood vessel, such as an artery, which has been constricted by the build-up of cholesterol fats or atherosclerotic plaque. When this medical procedure is applied to a coronary artery, it is referred to as Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA).Typically, a tip mounted balloon of a balloon catheter is advanced over a guidewire to the stenosis. Once the balloon catheter is properly position, the balloon is inflated to compress the plaque against the vessel walls and widen the stenosis. Problems occur, however, when the dilatation of the occlusion forms fissures, flaps and / or dissections which may ultimately cause reclosure or r...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

One other aspect of the present invention provides a shielded stent crimping assembly for loading a radioactive stent onto a deployment device. This assembly includes a crimping mechanism adapted to crimp the radioactive stent onto the deployment device. A shielded crimper body de

Problems solved by technology

Problems occur, however, when the dilatation of the occlusion forms fissures, flaps and/or dissections which may ultimately cause reclosure or restenosis of the vessel.

The performance of these tools, however, is not completely satisfactory since there is still a wide divergence between application force, profile and stent diameter.

Problems arise when excessive crimping forces are applied to the crimp pliers which can damage the stent and/or balloon catheter.

This is especially problemsome given the minute size of the stents which are typically on the order of about one (1) mm to four (4) mm in diameter before crimping.

Moreover, non-uniformity of the crimping may be experienced as well as the inability to determine when a reliable and uniform crimp has been achieved.

Thus

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